Perceived effects of therapist self-disclosure of attraction to clients.

Psychotherapists (60 female, 60 male), 80% of whom were psychologists, responded to one of two 8.5-min segments of a simulated therapy session in which the client disclosed sexual attraction toward the psychologist. The therapist either was noncommittal about his or her own feelings or disclosed that attraction to the client while also indicating they would not act on their mutual feelings. The depicted therapist-client configuration was either male-female or female-male. The self-disclosing condition was rated as less therapeutic for the client, and the psychologist offering it was rated as less expert. Women therapists were perceived as more expert, regardless of condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The perceived effectiveness of Christian and secular graduate training programs in preparing Christian psychologists to deal with experiences of sexual attraction.

Most psychologists experience feelings of sexual attraction toward clients, and for some Christian therapists this situation can be further complicated by their tendency to deny such sexual attraction. How effective are graduate training programs in teaching Christian psychologists to manage feelings of sexual attraction in professional contexts? In this survey, 258 Christian psychologists answered questions regarding their graduate training. A positive training environment was related to healthy coping responses in managing feelings of sexual attraction, and graduates of explicitly Christian training programs reported greater satisfaction with training conditions than graduates of secular programs. Those involved in training professional psychologists should consider the general training environment in addition to specific course work about managing feelings of sexual attraction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

African American client skin tone and clinical judgments of African American and European American psychologists.

After reviewing a photograph and case materials depicting an African American female client, African American and European American psychologists were randomly assigned to one of three skin tone versions of a photograph (light, medium, or dark) and completed a questionnaire. No relationships were found between client skin tone or psychologist sex and either primary diagnosis or treatment recommendation. However, African American psychologists rated the client more physically attractive and likely to benefit from therapy, and they expressed more positive feelings about the client and about working with the client, than did European American psychologists, who more strongly endorsed severe mental disorder diagnoses for the client. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dual relationships between therapist and client: A national study of psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.

4,800 psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers were surveyed (return rate?=?49%) to examine attitudes and practices regarding dual professional roles, social involvements, financial involvements, and incidental involvements. Half of the Ss rated the degree to which each behavior was ethical; the other half reported how often they engaged in each behavior. A majority believed dual role behaviors to be unethical under most conditions; most reported that they had rarely or never engaged in the behaviors. 10 factors (therapist gender, profession, age, experience, marital status, region of residence, client gender, practice setting, theoretical orientation, and practice locale) were examined for their relation to the beliefs and behaviors. A higher proportion of male than of female therapists were perpetrators of sexual and nonsexual dual relationships. The professions did not differ among themselves in terms of (a) sexual intimacies with clients before or after termination, (b) nonsexual dual professional roles, (c) social involvements, or (d) financial involvements with patients. 10 specific training implications are discussed in light of the exploitive and clinically harmful nature of dual relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Addressing Religious Conflicts in Adolescents Who Experience Sexual Identity Confusion.

How ought psychologists to respond to adolescents who experience sexual identity confusion? Does it make a difference if teens report religious conflicts or strain with respect to their experiences of same-sex attraction, behavior, or identity? This article considers adolescents who experience same-sex attraction and religious conflicts and offers recommendations to psychologists who provide services to these adolescents. The 3 primary goals of this article are to (a) clarify the religious and sexual-identity developmental contexts in which some adolescents find themselves experiencing same-sex attraction, (b) identify some of the religious conflicts that may occur for adolescents, and (c) offer suggestions for addressing religious conflicts faced by adolescents who experience same-sex attraction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists' Clinical Evaluations and Attitudes: An Examination of the Influence of Gender and Sexual Orientation.

Becoming aware of factors that may affect differential treatment of clients is necessary for psychologists to practice competently. Scholarly writing and empirical studies have suggested that therapist gender, client gender, and client sexual orientation are 3 such factors. This study examined therapist gender, client gender, and client sexual orientation in relation to psychologists' attitudes and clinical evaluations for clients. Results indicated that female psychologists held more positive attitudes and treatment expectations for clients than did male psychologists and that some psychologists hold inconsistent attitudes toward female clients generally and lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients in particular. Continuing education and consultation are recommended to increase psychologists' awareness of gender and sexual orientation issues and potential influences in treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists' Use of Touch in Individual Psychotherapy.

A national sample of 470 practicing psychologists responded to a survey regarding touch in adult individual psychotherapy. Results reflected a high degree of caution regarding physical contact with clients. Close to 90% of respondents never or rarely offered touch to clients during a session. The handshake, a socially stereotyped form of touch most likely to occur during greeting or parting, was the only form of touch that occurred with some frequency. Therapist and client gender, theoretical orientation, and touch experience of the therapist were related to the use of touch. Contrary to guidelines, touch was typically not discussed with clients when it occurred. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing Religious/Spiritual Functioning: A Neglected Domain in Clinical Practice?

Is client religious or spiritual functioning adequately addressed in clinical practice? Two studies are presented that address this issue. Each study was informed by an endogenous view of spirituality as a clinically relevant functional domain. The first study surveyed clinicians at 4 exemplar clinics. The second study was a national survey of 1,000 clinical psychologists. Both studies found that psychologists believe client religiousness/spirituality to be an important area of functioning. Yet most do not routinely assess the domain or address it in treatment planning. The article concludes by examining the clinical implications of an endogenous perspective on client spirituality and religiousness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward a social psychology of diagnosis: Similarity, attraction, and clinical evaluation.

Applied A. Byrne's (1971) similarity–attraction model in 2 studies of diagnostic bias. 56 clinicians and 56 undergraduates evaluated a client similar or dissimilar to themselves in political radicalism after hearing a taped interview with the client. Results for clinicians indicated no similarity–clinical judgment effect, but more radical Ss rated the client as having better therapy potential. Further, the more radical client was rated as less disturbed. Among students, the similar other was rated more favorably for therapeutic criteria. Similarity–attraction relationships were absent in both samples. Clinicians showed strong relationships between clinical and attraction ratings. An interactive, affective component to diagnosis is suggested. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Privileged communication in the psychologist–client relationship.

Determining the status of privileged communications between psychologists and clients is a complex task. There is considerable variation across states with respect to the scope of psychologist–client privilege, and several sections of state codes directly and indirectly influence its status. An analysis of state laws related to privileged communication in the psychologist–client relationship is presented and prevalent legal exceptions and trends related to client privilege are discussed. Implications for practice to assist psychologists in balancing their ethical and legal obligations also are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children's perceptions of psychology.

Surveyed various aspects of 1,314 5th–22th grade children's perceptions concerning what psychologists do and their attraction to the field of psychology. It was found that children strongly conceive of psychology as a therapeutic enterprise, with a minority of Ss citing the research roles of the psychologist. A factor analysis of attraction ratings also revealed this clinical emphasis. Grade trends were found on a number of informational questions, and sex differences were obtained on responses to more evaluative questions. It is argued that psychologists should critically evaluate how they present themselves to children in clinical and research settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training interns to respond to sexual dilemmas.

Previous research has documented that psychologists receive little training in responding to sexual dilemmas in psychotherapy. The authors describe 2 training experiences focusing on the personal, professional, ethical, and legal issues involved in sexual attraction between psychologists and clients. Small group discussions were particularly useful as trainees were able not only to receive educational material but also to examine their feelings and behaviors when they experienced sexual attraction. A conference format providing didactic information was especially helpful to new psychology trainees. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do therapists address ethnic and racial differences in cross-cultural psychotherapy?

Ethnic and racial differences between client and therapist affect therapy processes and outcomes, but little is known about the extent to which therapists have dialogues about their differences in therapy. A survey on this topic was completed by 689 APA-licensed psychologists with experience conducting cross-cultural therapy. Most psychologists reported having such discussions, but with less than half of their cross-ethnic/racial clients. Therapists and clients were equally likely to initiate discussions. Reasons for discussing differences varied greatly. Therapists consistently described themselves as comfortable with and skilled at these discussions, and reported that discussions facilitated therapy. Therapists who were female, older, nonminority, less experienced with diverse clients, and viewed training as an important factor were more likely to have discussions about differences. Results point to the need to better understand if, when, and how ethnic and racial differences should be addressed in therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

African American and European American therapists' experiences of addressing race in cross-racial psychotherapy dyads.

Using Consensual Qualitative Research, 12 licensed psychologists' overall experiences addressing race in psychotherapy were investigated, as were their experiences addressing race in a specific cross-racial therapy dyad. Results indicated that only African American psychologists reported routinely addressing race with clients of color or when race was part of a client's presenting concern. European American psychologists indicated that they would address race if clients raised the topic, and some reported that they did not normally address race with racially different clients. When discussing a specific cross-racial dyad, African American therapists more often than European American therapists addressed race because they perceived client discomfort. Only European American therapists reported feeling uncomfortable addressing race, but therapists of both races perceived that such discussions had positive effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Screening for Domestic Violence: Recommendations Based on a Practice Survey.

How do practicing psychologists identify female victims of domestic violence? When asking about harm to self and others, do they also ask if the client is in danger of being harmed by another in an intimate relationship? A national survey of practicing psychologists revealed that 95% agreed that it is their responsibility to assist victimized clients, but fewer than 19% routinely screen for domestic violence. Psychologists report several barriers to screening at intake, which coupled with low screening rates, suggest that psychologists are missing important opportunities to assist clients who are at risk for assault. Several recommendations designed to improve psychologists' screening rates for domestic violence are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors explaining why people join, remain in, or leave a scholarly society: The Canadian Psychological Association.

Both theory and subject matter experts were used to generate items for a survey designed to increase understanding of why psychologists join, remain in, or leave the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). The subject matter experts included current, former, and nonmember psychologists. 2,200 questionnaires were distributed by e-mail, and 275 were sent by surface mail. The response rates were 20% and 29% for e-mail and surface mail, respectively. Principal components analysis of the survey items resulted in 5 factors: outcomes, advocacy, organizational justice, annual convention, and professional recognition. Discriminant function analysis results showed that, on the basis of these factors, the authors were able to correctly classify respondents as current vs former members, and current vs never been members. Current members, former members, and psychologists who never joined CPA were found to differ significantly on their rating of most factors. The factors relevant for retaining members differ from those that attract psychologists to join CPA. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapists' anger, hate, fear, and sexual feelings: National survey of therapist responses, client characteristics, critical events, formal complaints, and training.

Therapists reported frequencies of experiencing 24 instances of feeling anger, hate, fear, and sexual attraction or arousal; encountering 16 client events (e.g., client orgasm, client disrobing, client suicide, client assault on therapist or 3rd party); and engaging in 27 behaviors (e.g., avoiding clients with HIV, kissing clients, massaging clients, using weapons or summoning police for protection from clients). Responses differed according to therapist gender (e.g., more male than female therapists experienced patient suicides and faced malpractice, ethics, or licensing complaints), client gender (e.g., more female than male clients were noticed as "physically attractive," hugged, and cradled in therapists' laps), and theoretical orientation. Many participants rated graduate training regarding anger, fear, and sexual arousal as inadequate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinician's reactions to depressive behavior and ill health.

Psychotherapists are susceptible to prevailing negative stereotypes that exist in society at large. Inappropriate negative attitudes toward depressed and ill patients can adversely affect interactions with such clients. The authors examined the reactions of 410 psychologists to vignettes that described a client who emitted either depressed or nondepressed behavior and who varied in terms of cancer prognosis. Clinicians had negative mood reactions after reading the vignette of the depressed client; they also believed the depressed client possessed many undesirable personal attributes. Practicing psychologists are urged to reflect on their attitudes and beliefs so they do not negatively affect assessment and therapy services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The separate world of animal research.

Comments on the articles of S. Plous (see records 84-20622 and 84-09797) on attitudes toward the use of animals in psychological research and education by noting that what makes this issue so controversial and perplexing concerns whether psychologists support animal research that involves pain or death. It is also questioned whether psychologists view the use of animals in psychological research as beneficial, noting that Plous found that 92.2% of psychologists who were mental health workers indicated they they rarely, never, or only occasionally used findings from psychological research on animals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)